al williams

Well, I had an Oyster Blue manual shift 2002 C230K with leather, panorama roof, wheel package, Bose, etc., from May of 2002 until 29 April 2011. It was a great car. Total service and expenses in 80,000 mi. were front brakes once, replacement of the MFD panel, 3 1/2 sets of tires, one emergency brake adjustment, and one connector repair in the ESP-ABS system under warranty. It still had the original battery!

On 29 April, I missed a decreasing radius turn at less than 30 mph. The front of the car went up the bank outside the turn, and the car flipped over onto its top. The roof shattered into powder, of course. Total injuries to me were-- ABSOLUTELY NONE !!! My baseball cap was still on my head, and my glasses were still on. No airbag deployment. The left door wouldn't open, so I went out the rear hatch after hitting the emergency release button. When the car was turned right side up, both doors would open and relatch. The center of the windshield header was pushed down only a few inches. This was a great car in reliability, economy, driving, and safety.

Just thought some of you naysayers might want to know.

anonymousmoose

Well, I hope I never have to find out how safe my car is in the manner you did :-)

I'm glad your ok. Thanks for sharing your story.

LILBENZ230

The W203 is quite stout even by today's standards, but especially by 2002 standards.

tommy

I guess my repair bills have all been in my head, then.

How did you miss a turn, and then flip the car? I'm not really following it. I wonder if you would have flipped over on the equivalent 3 series, which would have handled better, for example.

al williams

I went off the right side of the road at the end of a decreasing radius left turn, at less than 30 mph. Totally operator error. I either misread the turn because it was at night on a road that I knew, but in the other direction, or had my arms crossed and didn't put in enough lock. The front of the car went up the steep bank, and the car flipped over to its left, coming down on its top. The sides of the car were unmarked, until the tow truck rolled the car back over.

tommy

Well, I'm glad you're ok. I have to admit that it would be kind of cool to do what you went through, right after I changed my shorts.

NYFlapjack2

No doubt these are more robust rides compared to many.....and up until recently felt real safe but ....well here goes... (2002 C230K sports coupe -loaded except no pano roof) ...so this past Sunday I stop at my brothers.

I decide to take my chatty box 6 Y/O nephew to visit my mom. I go all the way, install his booster seat in the back seat for the 1 mile ride.

As we talk I as thinking he appreciates awesome-est Uncle's supercharged chariot and its @8 air bags. When one of the thousand comments/questions came: why doesn't this have a sunroof? Cause if we get caught in quicksand, how we gonna get out?

Gebus I am driving a deathtrap....

samaritrey

Cool to wreck your car

I still have issues with the wreck I was in over a year ago...
My wreck was at 70 rolling in an excursion so probably more scary.